Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri (4) celebrates with Rigoberto Sanchez (2) following his field goal in the first half of their game at Oakland Alameda Coliseum in Oakland, CA., Sunday, Oct 28, 2018. Vinatieri became the NFL's all-time scoring leader with this field goal.(Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)Buy Photo

INDIANAPOLIS — There are bigger honors in Adam Vinatieri’s future, honors that include gold jackets and a five-year waiting period whenever he decides to hang it up.

For the moment, though, the NFL recognized the magnitude of an accomplishment Vinatieri downplayed on Sunday by naming the Colts kicker the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, the 18th time Vinatieri has won the award, more than any other kicker in history.

Vinatieri made a 25-yard field goal at the end of the first half to break Morten Andersen’s NFL scoring record, one of the most hallowed marks in league history.

“I never thought I’d play this long and have the opportunity to be standing here talking about this right now,” Vinatieri said Sunday.

Vinatieri, whose status was in doubt last week due to a groin injury he suffered against the Bills, made both of his field-goal attempts and all four extra points in a 42-28 win over the Colts heading into the bye week. Although he broke one of the NFL’s biggest records, the 23-year veteran tied his magic moment in with the Colts’ team success.

“That’s the best part about today;,” Vinatieri said. “It’s less the record, but more that we got the record on a win, you know what I mean? The atmosphere in the locker room and the guys there and the support, you know, it’s hard to explain on how I just love and respect the players and the game and all the guys.”